CamGlen Commemorates the Centenery: Episodes 1-4

We at CamGlen Radio are excited to present our four World War One programmes. These programmes explore how World War One affected Cambuslang and Rutherglen through the words of their descendants.

In these programmes, you’ll hear about a range of interesting and tragic accounts, including the battles John Dunne saw, W. Ross Shearer's life as a POW and the Victoria Cross recipients who showed incredible acts of bravery. You’ll also hear about life on the home front, including what it was like for children and how the people of Cambuslang and Rutherglen helped Belgian refugees settle in Scotland during the First World War.

You’ll also hear about the legacy those who fought, and gave their lives, left behind. In between these accounts, you’ll also be able to enjoy the research Burgh Primary School and Hallside Primary School pupils have done on World War One, as well as the poetry recitals of Spittal Primary School Pupils.

A number of people and organisations helped make these programmes possible. A big thank you first to Burgh Primary School, Hallside Primary School and Spittal Primary School pupils. We would also like to thank the Heritage Centre, the Cambuslang Remembrance Garden Group, SSAFA and Queens Park Football club, who all contributed to the research which made this programme possible. Finally, we would like to give a huge thanks to the Heritage Lottery Fund for funding the project.


Episode 1 covers the beginning of the war, the experiences of those fighting and the casualties that resulted from the conflict. In this episode, we hear from Andy Newton about his uncle’s life as a miner, Kim Jackson’s grandfathers and the dangerous jobs soldiers like Victoria Cross recipient Hugh McIver were expected to carry out.

The episode was aired on Mon 24th December 2018.


In this episode, we learn more about Cambuslang and Rutherglen’s Victoria Cross recipients, and the astounding acts of bravery they demonstrated in order to receive the VC. We also hear about other soldiers who gave their lives during World War One, like Andy Newton’s uncle.

The episode was aired on Tue 25th December 2018.


In this episode, we explore life on the home front for the people of Rutherglen and Cambuslang left behind to do what they could at home, like librarian W. Ross Shearer- who documented the soldiers of Rutherglen who passed away during the First World War, including his own son. We also learn about the fascinating connection Rutherglen and Cambuslang have to the Belgian refugees who travelled to Britain.

The episode was aired on Wed 26th December 2018.


In this episode, we hear about the legacy of the First World War. We learn about life for those who returned home, and what life was like for the families of those who didn’t. We also learn more about what life was like for the Belgian refugees, and their descendants, most of whom returned to Belgium after peace was declared.

The episode was aired on Thu 27th December 2018.